New digital chart database nearly ready, smaller indies take note

The Official Charts Company is on schedule to launch its own database of all digital releases at the start of next year, and is encouraging any independent labels not distributed by one of the big digital distributors to get in touch to ensure their data is included.

While the company that looks after all the stats and data for the OCC, Millward Brown, has its own database of all physical music releases that are chart eligible, since digital sales were included in the mix six years ago they have relied on the data held by sound recordings collecting society PPL for information on digital releases. Record companies need to enter data relating to all of their releases with the PPL system anyway to ensure they get any royalties they are due for the broadcast or public performance of their recordings.

But from January Millward Brown will start running its own Digital Audio Database, meaning PPL data will no longer be used in the compilation of the chart. The majors and independent digital distributors IODA and The Orchard are already hooked into the chart’s new database, and discussions are ongoing with other distributors like Consolidated Independent, PIAS and Southern. But any indie labels not covered by one of those aggregators or distributors are encouraged to get in touch with Millward Brown directly to make sure they aren’t missed out.

The man you need to speak to is Mark Moist, who says: “We are fully on schedule for the introduction of DAD in January, thanks to the support and co-operation of the UK’s leading digital aggregators and distributors. But to make the chart process as streamlined as possible, we are keen to speak to any labels which do not believe they will be covered by the feeds we are setting up”.